Music is an important part of my life. It helps me reconcile emotion, helps me celebrate; and brings me joy. It is the best sort of medicine, taken at least daily. When I ask how you listen to music I've got a few questions – What equipment connects you to your favorite artists, and what are your listening habits?
Headphones are my preferred mode for experiencing music, and I have many pairs. The oldest, I've had throughout my university days, and they're nearly ten years old. They are purple, and I wore them on the bus every single day. They are the Audio Tecnicha ATH 700, and continue a service in the lounge room for quiet console gaming or watching a TV show when I don't want to disturb my better half.
Most recently, I've been thoroughly enjoying my Plantronics Backbeat Pro 2, a wireless set, which when used with my phone or PC, deliver deep bass, distraction free reveries and dirges thanks to the noise cancelling. They were incredible on a recent work trip.
Then there's my final set of headphones; The Audio Technica ATH 900, a model up from my old purple cans. These are permanently plugged into my gaming PC, and deliver loud, clear everythings.
I prefer headphones over speakers because to me, music is an intimate, solitary experience, where I get the opportunity to connect with someone's story entirely. It would come then as no surprise, that as profound my experience with music; that I listen to one artist for a prolonged period of time, studying their work, appreciating the depth of their catalogue; and understanding their creative process.
I'll listen to a band for 6 months straight. Sometimes the one album, sometimes a collection. Usually, in the order it was on the album. Sometimes, six months isn’t enough. It depends on the artist. I have a fairly broad musical taste, but if I had to name a top five, it would be:
- Epica
- Garbage
- Machinehead
- Nothingface
- Florence and The Machine
These are all artists that have been able to captivate me for months on end, sometimes with a single album; in the case of Skeletons by Nothingface. I've not yet seen Florence and The Machine live, but it will happen.
So for me, I listen to music via headphones mainly, to a single artist for an extended period of time, and like to explore an artist's entire repertoire. I rarely venture into random; and get impatient with “new” or “this band sounds like x”.
What about you, Steemit?